KPMG in India, in collaboration with FICCI, has released a report titled “Paving the future of aviation in Viksit Bharat @ 2047” at WINGS INDIA 2026 in Hyderabad. The report comes at a pivotal moment for the sector as India prepares for one of the world’s largest aircraft inductions and rapidly strengthening multimodal connectivity. It outlines a vision for a super‑connected, technology‑enabled and sustainable aviation ecosystem, built on integrated strategic themes including infrastructure expansion, AI‑powered operations, advanced manufacturing, MRO capacity, leasing, sustainable fuels, cargo modernisation, advanced air mobility and skilling.
India’s civil aviation sector is undergoing a structural shift—from being primarily a facilitator of mobility to becoming a strategic engine of economic growth, employment and competitiveness. The next two decades offer an unprecedented opportunity to build a future‑ready aviation economy, supported by a unified national aviation technology stack, next‑generation hub airports, and a deep domestic industrial base across manufacturing, maintenance, talent and finance.
Key Highlights from the Report:
- India is now the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market and is on track to become the third-largest globally, enabled by rapid fleet induction and record aircraft orders.
- A super‑connected India will require an integrated grid of ~400 airports supported by a commercial fleet of ~3,000 aircraft by 2047.
- The Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) market is set to grow from USD 2.5 billion to USD 7 billion by 2035.
- India has the potential to build a globally competitive global Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry leveraging its diverse feedstocks, substantial refining capacity, bioenergy experience and strong policy momentum. India is building the capacity to meet immediate targets with its sight set for the global opportunities of the future.
- India currently operates 164 airports, with a long‑term plan for a balanced network of mega hubs, national gateways and cost‑efficient regional airports.
- Air cargo throughput stands at ~3.7 million MT annually, with nearly 80% routed through the five largest airports; the report calls for fully digitised, multimodal cargo ecosystems to drive competitiveness.
- The National Aviation Skilling Mission will be essential to meet workforce needs—projecting 40,000 pilots and 38,000 aircraft maintenance engineers required by 2047.
Commenting on the report, Akhilesh Tuteja, Partner and Head – Clients and Markets, KPMG in India, said, “India’s aviation sector is on the cusp of transformative scale, and our report highlights a clear pathway to building a super connected, globally competitive ecosystem. With AI powered operations, multimodal integration, and future ready infrastructure, the opportunity to support over a billion annual passenger journeys by 2047 is within reach. Strengthening domestic manufacturing, MRO, leasing, cargo and skilling will be essential to converting this scale into lasting strategic advantage. At the same time, advancing sustainable aviation fuels and next gen technologies will anchor long term resilience and environmental leadership. With disciplined execution and aligned collaboration, India can emerge as one of the world’s most efficient and future ready aviation systems.”
India’s aviation sector is now poised to translate its rapidly expanding scale into lasting global competitiveness. The vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 is a seamlessly connected system that links regional India with globally benchmarked hubs, supported by AI‑driven efficiency, robust industrial capability, sustainable fuel ecosystems, and world‑class talent. Realising this vision will require clarity of outcomes, transparent performance reporting, stable policy frameworks and disciplined execution. Above all, progress will depend on deep collaboration among government, regulators, industry and academia—working with aligned incentives and shared accountability.
